Averett’s team questioned nearly 1,400 couples in the U.S. – including 155 gay and lesbian parents. In addition, they used information from Florida’s public child welfare system for the study.

Each couple was questioned about themselves and their children, the family composition/dynamics, and the history of the child before the adoption. The researchers said the findings – which are reported in the journal Adoption Quarterly – are important because it compares gay and lesbian and heterosexual couples.